Washington School House Hotel
As its name hints, Washington School House Hotel originated as an 1889 school, but it was converted into a 12-suite boutique hotel in the heart of Old Town Park City in 2011. The elegant getaway offers the convenience of a resort ski lodge (Park City Mountain is just down the street) with the comforts and hospitality of a bed and breakfast (chef Ryan Frye prepares hearty complimentary breakfast dishes and après-ski snacks).
The interior of the limestone building features oak flooring reclaimed from Utah barn wood and a thoughtfully curated collection of European antiques. A roaring fireplace welcomes you into the living room, where custom chandeliers hang from 16-foot ceilings — one mimicking winter’s abundant icicles, another made of real antlers.
During the winter, a ski valet will store your gear, provide handwarmers and whisk you to nearby resorts. After a day of mountain adventures, relax with a soak in the hot tub or a cocktail by the fire pit.
- The 19th-century schoolhouse, which was named for the first U.S. president, is a National Historic Registry landmark. The Park City hotel kept the original quarried limestone exterior intact.
- Washington School House Hotel is just steps from Main Street’s restaurants, galleries and boutiques, but its tucked-away location makes for an exclusive retreat.
- Blending historic charm with modern sophistication, the hotel is appointed with vintage furniture and over-the-top touches, like a 10-foot antique mirror from a French opera house.
- Wake up to a gourmet breakfast, with items like avocado toast with beet purée and house ricotta, and wind down with daily après-ski snacks in the chic downstairs lounge.
- Amenities also include an all-season pool and spa, built into the hillside and surrounded by mountain views. Roast s’mores at the fire pit, fashioned from a steel torch from the 2002 Winter Olympics.
- Check the dates for the annual wintertime Sundance Film Festival, when masses of movie lovers descend into the small mountain town for 10 days.
- During peak winter season, book dinners and activities weeks in advance — restaurants fill up fast, as do outdoor adventures like dog sledding and snowmobiling.
- Although known best for its winter powder, Park City’s summer months are also spectacular: 400-plus miles of trails, nightly live music, alfresco dining and fewer crowds.
- This romantic chalet is family-friendly, too. Kids will love playing board or video games in the ski lounge.
- Seven rooms and five suites boast unique features, from a cast-iron spiral staircase to a claw-foot tub. The luxe two-story Penthouse Suite includes a private elevator, kitchen and dining nook.
- Beds are covered in lavish Pratesi white linens and feathery down duvets. A monogrammed Washington School House fleece blanket is free for the taking.
- The white-marble-clad bathrooms feature heated floors, walk-in showers, Molton Brown products and plush white robes and slippers.
- The daily turndown service leaves you with complimentary treats like lavender pillow spray and Evian spritzer.
- In winter, ski, board, ice skate or take a horse-drawn carriage ride at Park City Mountain Resort. In summer, ride the alpine coaster, zipline or mountain bike from the resort’s base.
- Main Street carries a range of eateries: for fine dining, consider Southwestern-tinged comfort food spot Riverhorse on Main, the Southern-elegant Tupelo, farm-to-table Handle (order the General Tso cauliflower) or the French-American Courchevel Bistro. For a more casual evening, taste whiskey alongside elevated pub food at High West Saloon or catch live music at O.P. Rockwell.
- Ride a bobsled or watch aerialists soar at the Utah Olympic Park, where a free ski museum will take you behind the scenes of the 2002 Winter Olympics.
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